I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.
Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.
The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".
"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.
While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.
Frogperson, I had the great once in a life-time luck this weekend to hear Artie Shaw's "Clarinet Concerto" played by one Gabriel Campos Zamora and the Minnesota Orchestra of which he is principal clarinet . A ton of fun and Zamora is a fine player but unless memory fails me(a distinct possibility ) Vanska is even a tad better .
frogman you left two great sax players off your list of the senior sax players and they are, IMHO, two of the best tenors
Odean Pope and Pharoah Sanders
An excerpt from an article written in 2001 about Pope, who turned 80 this past October 24:
Odean Pope spends his time in the relentless pursuit of truth as codified in the fiery scales of a searing free-jazz sax solo. Indeed, 10 minutes into a phone interview with this obscure Philadelphia-based tenor sax player, it becomes clear that this is a man who is not a mere musician in the traditional sense of the word, but a committed spiritual seeker thirsting for sacred knowledge inside a swirl of polytonality. "To me, music is a universal thing," says Pope.
An excerpt from an newspaper article written in 2006 about Sanders, who turned 78 this past October 13:
After moving back to the East Bay, Sanders joined Coltrane's radical "free" group and stayed in it until Coltrane's death in 1967.
Here, however, is what gets lost in the conventional retelling: Sanders did not adopt Coltrane's tone -- Coltrane adopted Sanders'. Their styles are compatible, but who rubbed off on whom? It's clear: By the late '50s, Coltrane was up to his shoulders in pentatonic scales and minor modes, pioneering approaches to harmony. Sanders? Somewhere else completely.
Both tenors use overlapping rhythms and strong dissonance, an approach Sanders continued to refine into the 1970s. One of his favorite spots for it was the Keystone Korner in North Beach, which before closing in 1983 had incense on the stage, mandalas on the walls and lines out the door. A clear fit.
I saw Odean Pope, Pharoah Sanders, and James Carter live at the Blue Note NYC in 2014 and the three of them brought down the house playing solos and together. The honks, squeals, and screeches blended in perfectly with a harmonic rythm that only these 3 tenors, IMHO, could pull off with justice. One of the best, if not the best, concerts I ever saw.
What does everyone think of the new Wayne Shorter? It is only on CD and vinyl, as far as I can tell, and I have not heard it yet.
I really enjoyed the concert from Frogman in a jazz orchestra setting, but here he is in a completely different setting, which to me is more difficult. I will need to hear it.
“probing, contemplative”. I like that and I agree. He has always been one of my very favorites; not only as a player, but also as a composer. It’s always been fascinating to me how his style got more and more economical through the years even though he has always had technique to spare.
Thanks for the correction re his age. A slight correction of my own, if I may. Although not quite on the same level of overall importance, but there is still a handful of greats in that general age group who thankfully are still with us:
Benny Golson, 90 Jimmy Heath, 93 (heard him lead his big band just a month ago) George Coleman, 84 Charles Lloyd, 80
frogman Just a slight correction Wayne is 85 yrs. young !! Either 85 or 87 it doesn't matter , most people would be glad to be alive let alone still creating and performing at such a high level. The only other tenor sax player at that age who is still alive is Sonny Rollins but I don't think he performs anymore? I listened to the 1st cut of your post I recognized the tune from his "Juju " album I think . Excellent arrangement. Yes the band members are hanging on his every note. Of all the tenor players who came up at the same time as Shorter I marvel at how much he changed his style of playing from the bebop he started out playing to the style he developed with his solo work and with Miles group in the mid 60's. His probing , contemplative style with use of space differs from the bebop style he played only several years before. I use as examples these cuts with Art Blakey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSo2qaAnit0
I will say there are some aspects of his future style which can be heard in these cuts but it was not fully developed until he performed his own material later . I will listen to more of your JALC cut later.
Interesting clip with the great Wayne Shorter and Wynton Marsalis’ JALC Orchestra in a tribute to the great musician. Features arrangements by band members of many of Shorter’s compositions with some really interesting commentary by Wynton about each composition’s genesis. Wayne is 87 (!) years old and certainly not at the peak of his playing ability, but still with that rare and elusive ability to pour an amazing amount of emotion and meaning into a single note. Wonderful to watch the band’s players all intently hanging on every note that this idol plays. Fantastic section playing by the band in arrangements that, with one or two exceptions, are great:
Lucky Day ! Got them both , would have got the vinyl of "Moonlight" were it not $ 88 .CD from Japan .Would has gone for total Roost catalogue but $ 498 bucks seemed a mite much .
Can't thank you enough frogman , "Moonlight in Vermont " was my wife's favorite song, not surprising as she was from Vermont . Proof positive of power of melody uber alles .Hope I can get both of these !
Thanks , I tuned up my main system for resolution and caught that 3rd and end on a Decca "Grand Prix Du Disque" from one of my faves who seems to be forgotten , Ernest Ansermet and his Suisse Romande . Mint and a cool buck at Salvation Army for just plain artistry .
Yes, I have. I played it years ago under Zdenek Macal; one of my favorite little known conductors. Lovely symphony with, as you suggested, some nice clarinet writing. Doesn’t get performed nearly often enough. The opening to mvt.3 is particularly beautiful. Not exactly my favorite clarinet section in this orchestra, but the Kondrashin recording with the Concertgebouw (Phillips) is great.
You fans of Karen A should move to Twin Cities , she is from Minneapolis and sings at the Dakota lounge 4-5 times a year and yes , she is on the foxy side . Heard her live twice and she is very good .Waiting till they get her and Elling together ! frogman, have you played the Borodin 2nd ?
schubert I did not know of him either. I stumbled on to his music on youtube. Sidney Bechet is I guess the most well known clarinetist in that era having played with Duke Ellington but this man Edmond Hall has an excellent full tone and timbre.
WOW nsp, I never heard Edmond Hall before , what a lovely player on the stick ! Have to get some of him .He could play the clarinet parts in Borodin's 2nd Symphony !
tzh21yIf those KOB records are original Columbia 6-Eye issues in mint condition those prices are reasonable for a collector. About 25 years ago I bought an original KOB mono lp in "good" condition( translation: noisy) for $25. It was not worth it. For those records you bought? or saw It would be hard to believe after almost 70 years they would be in mint condition. I opted recently for an Sacd version.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
